97: Jane Reddin

As the artsy sibling of our fellow Phoenix New Times blogs, we run into some of the coolest and most talented folks in town. Jackalope Ranch proudly presents "100 Creatives" in honor of Best of Phoenix, which is just a summer away. Expect it on newsstands and computer screens near you September 30.

The Creatives are the cultured superheroes -- and heroines -- of metropolitan Phoenix. Have a suggestion for someone you'd like to see? Leave it in the comment section. Maybe we'll convince your favorite Creative to do a fly-by with us.

Courtesy of Jane Reddin

​97: Jane Reddin

After practicing law for nearly 20 years at the Phoenix firm Lewis and Roca, Reddin retired from the law and, after some self-exploration, opened Practical Art, a store specializing in locally made, useful handcrafts.

List five things on your Inspiration Wall (real or imagined). My inspiration comes from: the ocean; my nieces and nephews; dear friends who have passed; the unbridled enthusiasm of young people; and inspired architectural design.

What's your last big project? Though I started Practical Art in early 2008, it was such an enormous undertaking that calling any other project since then 'big' is laughable. And it continues to be a very demanding project! It seems like every day there's a new partnership we're able to forge, causes we're able to support, new artisans to promote ... after all, we're not only a space for local artisans to display their craftwork, but we are trying to help Phoenix generate a culture of eco-friendly practices and locally-minded consumers while proving it all can be easy and affordable once the awareness is present and the habits are established.

What's your next big project? What do you think about Practical Art - Buffalo NY? Practical Art - Fort Worth TX? WORLD DOMINATION of the local handcraft market?

Seriously, those are places where some of my family live and I have considered branching out -- there could be some possibilities there. But for now, I'm focused on Central Phoenix exclusively.

We started www.CentralandCamelback.com with a downloadable map as a place for our neighbors to find all the great walkable shops and restaurants around this intersection, for one. So in the near future it'll be less big projects of my own and more a partnering with like-minded folks and organizations working towards common goals, including some of the non-profits mentioned above.

How much do you hate being asked what your next big project is? I love people who're making sure I'm keeping on my toes!

What's something you want Phoenix to know about you? I want Phoenicians to know that locally-owned restaurants are my first choice venues for project tete-a-tetes. Dangle an Elote Callejero from Gallo Blanco in front of my nose and you may just have one motivated individual on your hands!